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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney at Law, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Colombo

Minister of Justice and National Integration

Profession: Attorney-at-Law

Roster profile ↗
Speeches 338 #12 of 225·#6 in party
Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 179 speeches
Last spoke 9 June 2026 in Debate

Activity by sitting

96 sittings · counts only, no scoring.

Topic focus

AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.

Speech history

338 speeches
  • 17 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara responded to concerns about an incident in Trincomalee, stating that the law is being enforced equally and that there is no separate legal standard for different ethnic or religious groups. He assured citizens in all regions that the Government would not permit racism or discrimination. He also referred to plans to establish a Director of Public Prosecutions, saying it would prosecute all crimes and questioning the link made between that office and war crimes. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Justice & Human RightsEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
  • 17 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara clarified that the proposed replacement for the PTA has been drafted and is being translated into Sinhala and Tamil before release for public consultation. He also stated that the Independent Prosecutor’s Office is a manifesto commitment rather than a response to external pressure, and that a committee headed by Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, including the Attorney-General and others, is examining it. He said objections from the Legal Officers’ Association and other public views would be considered, while the Government intends to proceed with its stated policy. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Law & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 17 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara said the Government is reviewing an increase to coroners’ allowances, while noting the post is a dignified public office rather than an income-generating role. He emphasized that the Judicial Service Commission is constitutionally independent under Article 111, that its decisions cannot be influenced by the Government, and that any grievances should be challenged through writ proceedings rather than unfounded public allegations. He also acknowledged prison overcrowding concerns, citing ongoing facility work including at Pallansena and the recruitment of 1,080 prison officers, while rejecting claims that magistrates act out of fear. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Public FinanceJustice & Human RightsLaw & Order Read →
  • 17 November 2025 AI summary The Minister clarified that Supreme Court cases concerning Development Officers’ teacher appointments had been dismissed, said coroner allowances are being reviewed with supervision mechanisms, and outlined justice-sector priorities under the Budget. He cited improvements in several World Justice Project Rule of Law Index indicators and said Rs. 58.5 billion is proposed for the sector, including recruitment approvals for courts and prisons. He highlighted ongoing law reform work, including a Counter-Terrorism Bill to replace the PTA, organized crime legislation, an Office of the State Prosecutor, criminal proceeds recovery, audio-visual court testimony, audit reforms, and changes ending certain privileges for former Presidents. He also emphasized non-interference with the judiciary, Judicial Service Commission disciplinary and backlog-clearance measures, and continued court digitalization. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage (Heads 110, 112, 228-236, 326) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 17 November 2025 AI summary The Minister tabled an answer on implementation of the Proceeds of Crime Act, No. 5 of 2025, stating that the Police Proceeds of Crime Investigations Division and CIABOC are the recognized national institutions for stolen asset recovery. He reported that, since the Act had been in force for about one month, neither institution had yet recovered stolen assets or proceeds of crime under it. The answer set out current staffing in the Police division and CIABOC, noted that new CIABOC appointments await parliamentary approval of cadre and remuneration, and stated that no separate allocation had been made for a Public Assets Recovery Agency in the 2025 appropriations. Oral Questions and Supplementaries (Q.1-Q.4 and Standing Order 27(2) Question) Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 15 November 2025 AI summary Harshana Nanayakkara rejected Opposition criticism of the President’s foreign relations, citing state visits to India, China, the UAE and other countries in 2024-2025 and listing resulting grants and assistance from JICA, ADB, India and Japan for health, housing and anti-corruption initiatives. He argued that the Government has reduced expenditure in the President’s Office, including recurrent costs, advisory and personal staff expenses, travel, general administration and benefits to former Presidents. He said the Budget would be implemented responsibly and asked the Opposition to correct the Government where necessary but refrain from using parliamentary privilege to spread falsehoods, briefly noting attacks on CIABOC as corruption cases proceed. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Public FinanceForeign AffairsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 15 November 2025 AI summary The Minister rejected claims that the Government is undermining Independent Commissions, stating that the Judicial Service Commission operates independently under Article 111C(1) of the Constitution and that interference with its decisions is a criminal offence. He criticized allegations about unfair disciplinary action against judges and judicial officers, listing recent interdictions, retirements, dismissals, resignations and other measures which he said followed lawful inquiries. He linked the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme to broader institutional discipline, anti-drug efforts and curbing illicit liquor, while stressing that the Government does not interfere with the JSC. On the Budget, he argued that the Government’s focus is fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability, citing World Bank comments, improved sovereign ratings and recent growth figures as evidence of economic stabilization and restored investor confidence. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Law & OrderPublic FinanceJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 15 November 2025 AI summary The Minister warned that political outcomes can be unpredictable, citing the experience of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and others who were forced to seek refuge or leave the country. He used the example to caution that anticipated developments may not occur and unforeseen events can change political circumstances. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 15 November 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration stated that the Judicial Service Commission and the Chief Justice were not present to respond to allegations made in the debate. He said that around twenty removals had taken place only after investigations and were not reprisals, and cautioned that contrary assertions could undermine the perceived independence of the JSC and the Chief Justice. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Parliamentary ProcedureJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 13 November 2025 AI summary Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara moved the adjournment of Parliament. The presiding member then proposed the question on the adjournment motion. Adjournment Motion: National Strategic Plan for Eye Health Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 13 November 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration moved that Hon. M.K.M. Aslam take the Chair. The House agreed to the motion, after which Hon. Imran Maharoof vacated the Chair and Hon. M.K.M. Aslam assumed it. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 12 November 2025 AI summary The Minister stated that the decision to assign a case to the Permanent High Court-at-Bar is made by the Chief Justice and the Judicial Service Commission upon application by the Attorney-General, not by the Minister of Justice or any political authority. He added that such selections are made expeditiously by the Chief Justice. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 12 November 2025 AI summary Minister Harshana Nanayakkara asks for clarification on whether the reference is to the period since the current Government came into office. The intervention appears to be a brief procedural or clarificatory question rather than a substantive policy statement. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 12 November 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration responded to a question regarding the number of trials-at-bar referred to the Permanent High Court-at-Bar. He indicated that he wished to address that specific point raised by the Member. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 11 November 2025 AI summary A procedural motion was moved proposing that Hon. Thushari Jayasingha take the Chair. The House agreed to the motion, after which Hon. Chanaka Madugoda left the Chair and Hon. Thushari Jayasingha assumed the Chair. Debate: Second Reading of 2026 Budget Bill (Day 3, Afternoon/Evening) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 8 November 2025 AI summary Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the Government had moved from crisis conditions to fiscal and economic stabilization, citing improved growth, unemployment, exports, remittances, tourism earnings, revenue, and primary balance figures. He argued that anti-corruption and rule-of-law measures, including amendments to the National Audit Act and legislation on recovery of proceeds of crime with a dedicated Police unit, were central to restoring investor confidence and preventing past abuses. He also defended the Government’s capacity to meet future external debt service obligations, including in 2028, and outlined Budget proposals on disability allowances, accessibility improvements, tourism growth, rural poverty reduction, digitalization, and initial funding for a new National Cardiac Unit. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Corruption & Governance ReformEmploymentPublic Finance Read →
  • 24 October 2025 AI summary Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the Office on Missing Persons had inherited cadre vacancies and institutional weaknesses, and that recruitment of 90 additional staff and other reforms had begun since November 2024. He stated that the Office for Reparations can make only one-off payments after a person is recognized as missing, that around 4,000 of 16,000 registered cases have received compensation, and that there is currently no legal basis to top up older payments to Rs. 200,000 without reliable historical payment data. He said the Government is collecting data, working with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office on broader support for affected families, and has Cabinet approval for Rs. 375 million to appoint 75 investigators to accelerate OMP cases. Oral Answer: Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka and Reparations (Q. raised 08.10.2025) Public FinanceJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 23 October 2025 AI summary The Minister said the Government’s anti-drug and law-and-order campaign aims to dismantle drug supply chains and underworld networks, arguing that past political links with such groups had enabled the problem. He said investigations into incidents such as the Weligama Chairman’s killing should proceed and that arrests would be handled lawfully, while forthcoming legal amendments would allow prosecution in Sri Lanka of offenders, including foreign crews, apprehended on the high seas. He invited the Opposition and wider society to support the President’s anti-drug programme launching on the 30th, stressing both supply suppression and demand reduction through community, professional, religious, and rehabilitation efforts, with addicts treated as patients and traffickers imprisoned. Adjournment Debate: Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking and Nation Together Programme (Ratama Ekata) HealthcareJustice & Human RightsLaw & Order Read →
  • 22 October 2025 AI summary The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara requested three weeks to provide an answer to the question. The question was ordered to stand down. Oral Question: Post of Public Health Midwife - Vacancies (Q.3/2025) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 22 October 2025 AI summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration presented the Department of the Legislative Draftsman’s Annual Performance Report for 2024. He moved that the report be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Public Administration, Justice and Civil Security, and the motion was agreed to. Presentation of Reports and Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →